FIREHEART X SANDSTORM
GINGERSHIPPING

In the start of the series, there was no indication that Sandpaw, with her feisty, arrogant, and unfriendly behavior towards Firepaw, would one day become his mate. As the series progresses however, and Fireheart proves himself to be an asset to the Clan, Sandpaw realizes that she should set her conceptions about his heritage aside, and accept him for who he is.

At first Fireheart is oblivious to how much Sandstorm cares for him, but with some nudging from his former apprentice Cinderpaw, he soon realizes and returns her feelings, and the two have kits in The New Prophecy.

THEORIES AND FAN VIEW

Fireheart and Sandstorm as pairing is as equally popular in the fandom as it's rival ship, SpottedxFire. Many fans appreciate the contrast of their personalities, and being one of the first canon shippings that did not end in tragedy. As mentioned before, this shipping stirs up canon and fandom controversy of it's true legitimacy when compared to SpottedxFire.

"EVIDENCE" AND "SUBTEXT"

SandxFire is canon, including romantic interaction in the books, and the appearance of kits later in the series. Here's some samples and information within the books on the way this pairing developed:

Fire and Ice, page 96 “I feel sorry for Fireheart’s apprentice. Imagine a Clan cat being trained by a kittypet!” But for once Sandpaw didn’t react. She just shot an uncomfortable glance at Fireheart.

The relationship begins very subtly - as Sandpaw and Fireheart become friends, she quickly becomes uncomfortable, wishing to maintain her friendship with Dustpaw, yet not wanting to belittle Fireheart's roots any longer.

Fire and Ice, page 203    “Do you think I don’t know the way to Fourtrees?” Sandpaw protested. Fireheart began to regret acting like a mentor until he noticed a good-humored gleam in her eyes.    Sandpaw faced him, her whiskers twitching. “Surprise!”    Fireheart hissed playfully and leaped on top of her. He was impressed by Sandpaw’s strength, but he had the advantage of size.

As they grow more comfortable together, Fireheart discovers another side of Sandpaw. While she was nasty to him and playful with Dustpaw when he first entered the Clan, she is now playful and teasing with him, as seen in this sweet quote from Fire And Ice.

Fire and Ice, page 240 As he turned to wash his side, his whiskers brushed against something. He opened his eyes to find Sandpaw standing beside him. Her orange pelt glowed silver beneath the rising moon. “Thought you might like some company,” she mewed. She sat down and began to wash Fireheart’s back with long, soothing strokes.    Through half-closed eyes, Fireheart caught a glimpse of Dustpaw staring from outside the apprentices’ den, unable to disguise his envy and amazement. Dustpaw wasn’t the only one surprised by Sandpaw’s gesture---Fireheart hadn’t expected such friendliness from the fiery young she-cat, but her warmth was welcome, and he wasn’t going to question it.

Pretty self-explanatory, Sandpaw physically indicating by sharing tongues with him that she would like to initiate a close friendship with Fireheart.

Fire and Ice, page 242 Fireheart purred and felt himself relax. Sandpaw had lifted his spirits again. He stood up and gave her a brisk lick on the head.

Just a minor quote noting that Sandpaw (similar to a quote about Cinderpaw) does lift Fireheart's sprits.

Fire and Ice, pages 280 and 281 Fireheart walked over to Sandstorm. “We can eat together as warriors tonight,” he mewed happily. “If that’s okay with you?” he added. Sandstorm purred at him and Fireheart felt a prickle of pleasure.

Fireheart's getting the warm fuzzies again! Finally, Sandstorm is a warrior, and now they have the freedom of developing a close relationship as warriors together.

Rising Storm, page 140 Sandstorm flinched as if [Fireheart] had struck her. “How can you say that? You have me!” she spat. “I’ve done nothing but try to help you. Doesn’t that mean anything? I though that our friendship was important to you, but clearly I was wrong!” She spun around, flicking Fireheart’s legs with her tail before racing away into the trees. He watched her disappear, bewildered by her response. His paws stung, and he felt more wretched than he could ever remember.

Obviously Sandstorm is looking for a little more then just a friendship - and this quote indicates again two things - that Fireheart is still utterly clueless when it comes to she-cats, and that the romance between Sandstorm and Fireheart is hardly ever without it's rough patches, especially when given the spotlight.

Rising Storm, page 155    "Because while you're dreaming about Spottedleaf, there's another cat--a living one--right under your nose whom you should be thinking about instead."    Fireheart stared at Cinderpelt, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"    "Haven't you noticed?"    "Noticed what?"    Cinderpelt opened her eyes and lifted her head. "Fireheart, every cat in the Clan can see the Sandstorm is very, very fond of you!"

Fireheart seems to be clueless to anything that concerns she-cats. Even when Cinderpelt interprets Fireheart talking about Spottedleaf to be infatuation, he only wishes to talk to her because of the possible prophecy and warning that Spottedleaf's words could contain. And, if we are to believe this quote, he seems to be the only one not noticing that Sandstorm is very fond of him.

Rising Storm, page 307 [Fireheart] turned his head as they ran down the other side of the mound and looked into the warrior’s soft emerald eyes. “I missed you, Sandstorm—” he began.

Now that Fireheart is aware of Sandstorm's feelings, it would appear as if he's (finally) ready to return them. Note Sandstorm's softened emerald gaze - later on in the series and even now, Fireheart seems to mellow her out more then hanging out with Dustpaw ever did.

A Dangerous Path, page 277 “I’m sorry Sandstorm,” he murmured. “I never meant to hurt you.” His voice barely more than a whisper, he added, “I love you.” Sandstorm’s eyes glowed. “I love you too, Fireheart,” she whispered.

The final canon confirmation, and one of the few precious quotes where the words, "I love you" are spoken. Even though they admit that they care for each-other, their relationship is not quite in the clear yet - the conclusion to the tension between SpottedxFire and SandxFire is still floating about, but until Firestar's Quest, Fireheart will (as always) be completely unaware of it.

Firestar's Quest, page 110    "I know you never really wanted me for your mate," she mewed as soon as they were out of earshot of the other cats. "You've always been in love with Spottedleaf." Firestar thanked Starclan that he had not mentioned his dream encounter with the former medicine cat. "I loved Spottedleaf," he admitted. "But even if she had lived, what could I have done? She was a medicine cat. She would have never chosen a mate."    "So I was second-best?" Sandstorm spoke bitterly, not looking at him.    "Sandstorm . . ." Firestar pressed against her side, curling his tail around her as she tried to move away. "You're not second-best to any cat."

And so begins what will eventually be the conclusion (well, almost) of Fireheart and Sandstorm's trouble, jealousy, doubt-ridden problems. Kept secret from him until now, Sandstorm has always doubted how Firestar feels about her, and of all cats, Sandstorm is the least of all that would be taken for second-best.

Firestar's Quest, page 145 [Fireheart] raced downriver, scrambling over rocks slick with water. Desperately he scanned the banks and the surging water, convinced that every scarp of tossing debris might be his beloved mate.

Cute. *wibble*

Firestar's Quest, page 146 [Fireheart] let out a whimper of grief. How could he have let Sandstorm believe that he would rather have been with Spottedleaf? It was Sandstorm he loved, and he would do anything to live the time over again and send her across the fallen tree trunk first.

*more wibble* Alright, so it says right here that he would rather be with Sandstorm then Spottedleaf (almost) but he does really love her very much, this most is easily proved with all the quotes below.

For a heartbeat Firestar met Sandstorm's green gaze. So much passed between them that could never be put into words. Then he tore himself away.

Some kind of intense emotion is shared by them hear, that much is clear by Firestar having to tear himself away from her emerald gaze. But whether his emotion is positive or negative isn't ever known - it doesn't really matter later on anyway.

Firestar's Quest, page 402 "I love you, Sandstorm," Firestar put in. "You'll never be second best for me. My love for you belongs here and now, in the life we share--and it will last for all the moons to come, I promise."

The final clincher for FirexSand will probably not satisfy fans of SpottedxFire, but Firestar clearly states here that he loves Sandstorm, and that he chooses his mate from the living, and that she will never be second best. In conclusion, it's very obvious that Fireheart has a rather complicated relationship between the two of them. While he insists that Sandstorm will never be "second-best" does that make Spottedleaf second best? Somehow that doesn't fit. But despite the very different feelings he has for each of them, for now at least Sandstorm has been satisfied.